SMJK calls for responsible decision-making from the Finnish Football Association in the selection of World Cup hosts
The Finnish National Team Supporters Association (further SMJK) urges the Football Association of Finland to consider human rights when voting on the hosting rights for the 2030 and 2034 FIFA World Cup during the FIFA Congress on December 11, 2024.
According to FIFA's announcement in October 2024, the hosting rights for the 2030 and 2034 tournaments will be voted on as a single package. Both bids (Spain, Portugal, and Morocco for 2030, and Saudi Arabia for 2034) present serious human rights concerns. According to a YLE news report published on December 5, the Football Association of Finland intends to vote in favor of these bids.
Numerous organizations, including Amnesty International, Sports & Rights Alliance, and Football Supporters Europe (of which SMJK is a member), have highlighted significant human rights violations associated with the bidding nations.
For the 2030 World Cup, the main human rights risks are related to the excessive use of force by law enforcement in all three host countries, such as the use of rubber bullets for crowd control. Additionally, there are concerns about freedom of expression in all three nations and minority rights in Morocco.
Saudi Arabia, the proposed host for 2034, has a long history of severe and systematic human rights violations. The rights of women and minorities in the country are extremely limited, and migrant workers building tournament infrastructure are subjected to inhumane working conditions without minimum wage protections. This year alone, more than 300 people have been executed in Saudi Arabia (United Nations). There are also serious concerns about the freedom of expression and safety of players and fans if Saudi Arabia is awarded the hosting rights. Football should not be used as a tool for sportswashing by regimes that violate human rights.
By voting in favor of FIFA’s proposal, SMJK believes the Football Association of Finland would act contrary to its own responsibility program, particularly its commitments to social responsibility. The responsibility program states: “We promote equality and equity in our operations and decision-making.” To be credible, such commitments require action, not just words.
SMJK calls on the Football Association of Finland to use its influence at the FIFA Congress by refusing to vote for awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia unless significant and credible improvements in human rights are made before the decision. Furthermore, SMJK encourages the Football Association of Finland to advocate for the following:
- Separate consideration of the 2030 and 2034 bids, rather than a bundled vote.
- Postponing the decision on the 2034 World Cup hosting rights until candidates present a credible human rights strategy.
- Establishing a monitoring committee to oversee compliance with FIFA’s human rights standards for the World Cup, with annual public reporting of findings to the FIFA Congress.
For further information:
President
Piritta Gurung
[email protected]
050 545 9010
Secretary
Jussi Hartikainen
[email protected]
050 567 5252
The Finnish National Team Supporters Association
Sources:
(https://yle.fi/a/74-20129564)
(https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ior10/8712/2024/en/)
(https://sportandrightsalliance.org/global-fifa-should-halt-process-for-2034-world-cup-bid-and-demand-credible-human-rights-strategy-for-2030/)
(https://www.fanseurope.org/news/fifa-saudi-arabia-human-rights-groups-football-supporters-worker-organisations-express-deep-concern-at-global-law-firms-flawed-world-cup-2034-assessment/)
(https://www.palloliitto.fi/palloliitto/vastuullisuus/sosiaalinen-vastuu?tab=2-3-yhdenvertaisuus)
(https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/12/saudi-arabia-un-experts-voice-alarm-executions-foreign-nationals
